365betÌåÓýÔÚÏßÊÀ½ç±­

For Ryan Bingham, the road to becoming a nationally recognized musician wasn’t paved with early dreams of stardom. It was something he discovered later, with grit and purpose.

As he prepares to take the stage at the Pepsi Amphitheater in Flagstaff on June 10, Bingham reflected on the winding trail that’s brought him here.

“I kind of got a late start into it,� Bingham said, looking back at his early 20s when he first picked up a guitar. “I didn’t really have very high expectations of what I was gonna do with it, but I knew that it was something that I would probably do for the rest of my life.�

Born in New Mexico and raised across Texas, Bingham was shaped by both place and people.

“There’s just a rich history of songwriters that come from Texas,� he said. “I was fortunate to grow up listening to that music and have that as a big influence. Guy Clark, Townes Van Zandt, Jerry Jeff Walker -- those guys really laid the foundation for what was to come.�

Bingham’s music carries that heritage with a raw, weathered honesty. It’s something fans have come to expect, whether he’s strumming a heartfelt acoustic ballad or belting out a gritty rocker. He credits his unfiltered style to writing as a form of release more than performance.

“There was a lot of stuff that I wrote that I never really intended for other people to hear,� he said. “I just kind of wrote it to get stuff off my chest. It was therapeutic. � Just ‘three chords and the truth,� talking about things you’ve actually seen, lived through -- stuff we all kind of relate to.�

That truth-telling approach extends to how he writes and constructs albums.

“I tend to try to get out there and live through the experiences first and then write about them afterwards,� he said. “It’s almost kind of like a journal in a way.�

When it comes to genre, Bingham doesn’t box himself in.

“At the end of the day, it’s more kind of folk -- the songwriting -- and you can turn it into whatever you want. Put electric guitars on it and make rock and roll, or bring in banjos and fiddles and make it more country or bluegrass,� he said. “Usually, it starts with the song.�

Though Bingham has traveled far and wide, the Southwestern landscapes where he grew up continue to inspire him.

“I always go back to the desert when I’m writing songs,� he said. “Just the vast openness, being able to see for miles. No matter what I’m writing about, I’m always kind of on that hilltop watching the sunset over the desert.�

Beyond music, many fans know Bingham from his acting role in “Yellowstone,� where he plays Walker, a guitar-strumming ex-con with a backstory that mirrors some of Bingham’s own cowboy credentials.

“The people from ‘Yellowstone� first asked me to write songs for the show,� he explained. “Then they found out I had a bit of a rodeo background and could ride horses, and they said, ‘Shoot, we gotta get you in the show.’�

Despite his success on screen, Bingham sees acting as a “side thing� that he’s happy to have explored, but not something he’s chasing. “Music’s still the main thing.�

Now, as he returns to northern Arizona, Bingham said he's looking forward to reconnecting with a crowd he knows well. “I’ve played in Flagstaff a few times. The Orpheum -- that was a great show,� he said. “The crowd was awesome, people came from all over. I’m excited to come back.�

This time around, he’ll be joined by the Texas Gentlemen, a versatile band of seasoned musicians who promise to bring an extra spark to the stage.

“They’re just absolutely wonderful,� Bingham said. “They can all play a lot of different instruments, a lot of different styles. So we’re gonna get out there and have a good old-fashioned honky-tonk jam.�

While the music is the main event, fans might also get a taste of something new -- literally. Bingham recently launched his own whiskey label, Bingham’s Bourbon, and he’s bringing it on tour. “We’ll be coming to Arizona with that as well,� he said.

As for what to expect on the night of the show?

“We’re gonna play some acoustic songs, some rock and roll, some country � a bunch of old songs and a lot of new ones,� Bingham said. “We always keep it loose. Every crowd brings something different, so I like to feel it out and go with the flow.�

And when those crowds come from smaller cities like Flagstaff, Bingham says the connection is often even deeper. “The crowds tend to be a little less jaded,� he laughs. “In the big cities, people get concerts every night. But in the smaller towns, people are just excited that you’re there. They’re just appreciative of the music.�

That kind of appreciation -- and the raw storytelling that Bingham brings to every stage -- promises to make his Flagstaff show one of the highlights of the summer.